Quick-release connector



7, 1965 w. J. CRAVEN ETAL 3,200,463

QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1962 INVENTORS WILBUR J. CRAVEN DWIGHT N. DEWEY Z ml yw ATTORNEYS 7, 1965 w. J. CRAVEN ETAL 3,200,463

QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 10, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

.52 INVENTORS WILBUR J. CRAVEN DWIGHT N. DEWEY BYW W AT TORNEYS 7, 1965 w. J. CRAVEN ETAL 3,200,463

QUICKRELEASE CONNECTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 10, 1962 INVENTORS WILBUR J. CRAVEN DWIGHT N. DEWEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,20%,463 QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTQR Wilbur J. Craven, East Hartford, and Dwight N. Dewey,

West Hartford, Conn., assignors to The Capewell Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 10, 1%2, Ser. No. 243,576 11 Claims. (Cl. 2423ll) This invention generally relates to connectors and more specifically to a quick-release connector particularly suitable for connecting a parachute canopy to an associated harness and constitutes an improvement over connectors of the general type disclosed and claimed in the United States Patent 2,473,554.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved quick-release connector of the aforedescribed type that will successfully withstand extremely great tension loads without being accidentally released and yet may be simply and easily released while under load.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a connector which is safe and yet may be quickly and easily released regardless of adverse operating conditions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a connector that will attain the above objects while possessing a rugged and compact construction that is relatively economical to manufacture and which will provide dependable service over long periods of use.

Other objects will be part obvious and part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a connector embodying the present invention shown with its cover in open position;

FIG. 2 is a right-hand side view of the connector as shown in FIG. 1 and additionally showing a retracted position of one of the connector parts;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the connector shown completely assembled and connecting a pair of straps, the latter shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line !.a4a'of FIG. 1;

FlG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view with portions broken away of another preferred form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an embodiment of the improved connector of the present invention is shown as generally comprising two separable units 2, 4, which are adapted to be coupled together to connect straps 6, 8, as shown in FIG. 3, straps 6 and 3, for example, forming connecting links between the canopy or parachute and the main sling of a parachute harness (not shown).

The connecting or base unit 4 which, for convenience, will be referred to hereinafter as the lower unit comprises spaced side members Iltl, 12; end members 1.4, 16, and two cross bars 18, 2t} integrally extending between the side members it 12 for securing to the lower unit 4, a strap such as strap 8 which leads from the parachute harness. The end member 16 of the lower unit 4 is flanged to provide an inwardly facing bearing 22 generally curved in cross section and in the nature of a groove extending transversely across the lower unit 4. The opposite end 14 of the lower unit 4 is formed with an upstanding shoulder or lug 24 about which is mounted a lock, generally designated 26 (FIG-S. 2, 4a, and 6), and which will be more particularly described hereinafter. The end member 14 is additionally provided with a recess 23 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) which together with the bearing 22 in end member 16 forms a seat for receiving the lower surface of the connector unit 2 which, for convenience, will be referred to hereinafter as the upper unit.

The upper unit 2 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a generally triangular apertured base having a forward end 39 adapted to pivotally engage the bearing 22 of the lower unit 4; and an opposite end 32. adapted to be received in the recess 28 of the lower unit (see FIG. 4). To laterally locate the units 2, 4, a depending lug 34 is provided on the forward end 3:) of the upper unit 2, adapted to be received at a corresponding recess 35 formed in the lateral center of end member 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) of the lower unit 4. Adjacent the forward end 30 of upper unit 2 and spaced from the plane of the base thereof, there is an integral cross bar 36 for securing to the upper unit 2, a strap such as strap 6 which leads from the shroud or canopy.

The lock or latch 26, which is provided to prevent relative pivoting of the units 2, 4, about the bearing 22, when the units are secured in assembled relationship, comprises in the illustrated embodiment, as best shown in FIGS. 4-1: and 6, a generally U-shaped slidable latch member ill mounted on the lower unit 4 for slidabie movement between a locking position wherein the slidable latch member 4% overlies and engages the top surfaces 33 of the end member 32 of the upper unit 2 and an unlocking position wherein the slidable latch member as is retracted in the direction of the lug 24 of the lower unit 4 to become disengaged from surfaces 33 of upper unit 2 to thereby permit relative pivoting of the units 2, 4. In the shown embodiment, the upstanding lug 24 of the lower unit 4 is formed with a generally T-shaped cross section forming channel ways 42 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) adapted to slidably receive the U-shaped slidable latch 4d. Additionally, the end 32 of the upper unit 2 is provided with a generally T-shaped upstanding lug 44 forming channel ways 46 (see P16. 6) adapted to register with the channel ways 42 for receiving the slidable latch 49 when the latter is moved into locking position.

In order to slide the latch between locking and unlocking positions, there is provided a drive lever generally designated 5%, of generally channel-like cross section, pivotally mounted to the lower unit 5 by suitable means, such as the mounting pin 52 which is journalled in the spaced end projections 54 provided on the lower unit 4 and which passes through the pair of mounting arms 56 provided at the rear end of the drive lever 50. The drive lever 56 is adapted to be pivoted between one extreme, or latching, position wherein it generally overlies the upper unit 2 (as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4a) and to another opposite extreme position-wherein it is disposed generally at right angles to the lower unit thereby to slide latch 40 so that it no longer engages and secures the upper unit 2.

A drive connection between the slidable latch 4@ and the drive lever is provided which in the illustrated embodiment is effected by means of the recesses 58 (see FIGS. 4a and 6) provided in the sides of the latch 49 which recesses 53 receive the mounting arms 56 of the drive lever 50. The mounting arms 56 of the drive lever 5d are dimensioned to engage the opposite walls 59 of the recesses 58 to slide the slidahle latch 40 between locking and unlocking positions upon pivoting of the drive lever 5'1) between its extreme positions.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a detent means is provided for releasably retaining the drive lever 5G in the latching position (shown in FIG. 2) wherein the slidable latch is placed in locking position with respect to the upper unit 2. The detent means in the illustrated embodiment comprises a bifurcated latch member generally designated 60 nested within and suitably fixed to the drive lever as by rivets 61 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 4a and FIG. 6 illustrating in exploded view a similar latch member 160). Latch member provides a pair of flexible and resilient arms 62 (FIG. 5) extending along the inner side of the lever side walls 51 and terminating in operating buttons 64 which extend laterally outwardly of the drive lever 50 through aligned openings 66, in the side walls 51 thereof. Generally below the buttons 64 (as viewed in FIG. 5) the latch arms 62 are provided with projections of cars 68 which are adapted to engage in slots 70 formed in the base of upper unit 2. The upper unit surface portions 72 adjacent the slots 70 are outwardly relieved or inclined as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 so that as the drive lever 50 is pivoted to its overlying or latching, position with respect to upper unit 2, the latch ears 68 will engage the inclined surface 72 so as to be wedged inwardly for engagement in slots 70 where they will be retained due to the biasing force of the resilient and flexible latch arms 62.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a novel operator for the drive lever 50 is provided and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a release lever generally designated 80, pivotally mounted to the lower unit 4 by pin 52 in overlying and generally surrounding relationship to the drive lever 50 whereby drive lever 50 is nested in release lever 80. The release lever 80 which is of bifurcated construction includes elongated downwardly depending side walls 82 generally registering with the side walls 51 of the drive lever 50 (see FIG. 2) and connected by an integral cross bar 84. The rearward ends 86 of the side walls 82 of the release lever 80 are provided with aligned apertures 88 which receive the mounting pin 52 for effecting the pivotal connection to the lower unit 4.

The forward ends of the side walls of the release lever 80 are enlarged to form lobes 90 which extend inwardly at an angle, preferably of about 26 to engage the outer surface of the latch buttons 64 which are similarly formed to extend inwardly at an angle which is slightly less than that of the lobes 90 of the side walls of release lever 80 and perferably of about 25 (see FIG. 5). Thus,

when the release lever 80 is pivoted slightly upwardly relative to drive lever 50, the enlarged side lobes 90 of the release lever 80 will force the latch buttons 64 laterally inwardly to thereby release the latch ears 68 from engagement with the slots 70. With latch ears 68 so released, continued pivoting movement of the release lever 80 will cause the drive lever 50 to pivot with the release lever 80 since the wall portions 90 of the release lever 80 remain in engagement with latch buttons 64 after the latch ears 68 are released from slots 70. When the release lever 80 and the drive lever 50 are pivoted to open position, slidable latch 40 will be moved to free the upper unit 2 for separation from the lower unit 4. The latch buttons 64 and the enlarged side lobes 90 of the release lever 80 are formed at a slightly different angle to minimize the area of contact and consequently the frictional forces therebetween. Additionally, the latch buttons 64 and the enlarged side lobes 90 are arranged such that the latter engage the former below the axis of the buttons 64 as clearly shown in FIG. 5. This arrangement insures that the flexural moments imparted to the buttons as they are depressed inwardly by the release lever 80, will not tend to tilt the axis of the buttons upwardly so as to increase the force required to depress them inwardly.

In order to facilitate pivoting of the release lever 80 for actuating the drive lever 50 to thereby effect separation of the upper and lower units 2, 4, a pop-up lanyard generally designated 95 and formed from standard rip-cord cable, is attached to the release lever by means of a paddle lever 100 (see FIG. 4) which is pivotally mounted generally at its center portion 101 to the cross bar 84 of the release lever 80 and which is disposed to extend in generally underylying relationship with the release lever 80. The forward end 102 of the paddle.

lever 100 which is generally located between the enlarged side lobes of the release lever 80, is formed with a downwardly extending tongue 104 (FIG. 3) and with a pair of mounting eyes 106 on opposite sides of the tongue 104 which eyes 106 receive one end of the lanyard and are crimped into engagement therewith to thereby rigidly fix the lanyard so that, when released as hereinafter more fully described, it assumes the relaxed position shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the paddle lever 100. As hereinafter more fully described a pull on the lanyard 95 will be effective to pivot the release lever 80 relative to drive lever 50 thereby to depress buttons 64 to release the latch cars 68 at which time the drive lever 50 also pivots to open position with release lever 80 to unlock the upper unit 2 for separation from the lower unit 4.

To counterbalance the tendency of the drive lever 50 to pivot upon the initial pull of the lanyard 95 (in which case the force tending to hold latch ears 63 in firm engagement with the upper walls 71 of the slots 70 would be increased and therefore a greater force would be required for the unlatching thereof) the paddle lever is provided with a pair of tabs 108 (FIGS. 1 and 4) at the rearward end, adapted to engage the top of the drive lever 50, to exert a downward force (as viewed in FIG. 4) upon the initial pull of the lanyard 95, to thereby minimize the force required to disengage latch ears 68 from slots 70 and to insure a smooth and virtually effortless release. Additionally, there is provided, as in FIG. 4, a stepped tab 109 projecting rearwardly from the cross bar 84 of release lever 80 and extending below the drive lever through an aperture 111 therein to limit the maximum pivotal movement between the release lever 80 and the drive lever 50 in the event that the lanyard 95 is pulled with suddent excessive force so as to disengage side lobes 90 of release lever 80 and latch buttons 64.

When the release lever 80 is in closed position (FIGS.

4 and 5), the tongue 104 of the paddle lever 100 extends through an aperture 110 provided in the drive lever 50 and is disposed between the buttons 64 of the latch member 60 best shown inFIG. 5. The tongue 104 of the paddle lever 100 is dimensioned so that when disposed between the buttons 64, it will prevent unwanted inward movement of the buttons 64 which would be eifective to disengage the latch ears 68, and such as might be occasioned for example when the release lever 80 is subjected to high gravity forces tending to slightly pivot the release lever 80 towards open position. Under such conditions, the paddle lever 100 will remain between the latch buttons 64 and not be similarly affected by the inertia forces since the mass of the paddle lever 100 is considerably less than that of the release lever 80 and since the paddle lever is mounted so as to have a lost motion connection with respect to the release 80 under such conditions. However, to insure against movement of the paddle lever 100 out from between the latch buttons 64, when subjected to such inertia forces, a biasing means is provided to urge the paddle lever 100 in clockwise direction(as viewed in FIG. 46) which in the illustrated embodiment is accomplished by a leaf spring 112 fixed to one end of the release lever 80 and having the other end 114 engaging the tongue 104 to bias the latter downwardly.

In order to provide sufiicient space to accommodate movement of the latch arms 62 during latching and unlatching movement thereof, the side edges of the tongue 104 of the paddle lever 100 are formed to curve inwardly as shown in FIG. 5. Since the leaf spring 112 will bias the tongue 104 downwardly during latching movement, the curved side edges 105 will permit the latch arms 62 to twist as they are wedged inwardly by inclined surfaces 72 of upper unit 2 as latching ears 68 are moved into engagement with slots 70.

A safety cover generally designated 120 is provided to secure the lanyard 95 in a retracted position shown in FIG. 3, so as to preclude accidental pulling thereof. The safety cover 12%? (see FIGS. 1 and 2) which includes a top wall 122, side walls 124, and end wall 125, dimensioned and configured to substantially enclose the release lever 80 (as shown in FIG. 3), is pivotally connected to the lower unit 4 by a steel spring strap 126 having one end 128 pivotally engaged around the mounting pin 52 (see FIG. 4) and the other end 130 pivotally connected to the top wall 122 of the cover (see FIG. 1). The safety cover 120 is adapted to be snapped securely in place over the release lever 80 by first placing the edge 129 of the end wall 125 in a groove 131 provided in the top surface of the upstanding shoulder 24 of the lower unit 4, and then forcing the cover 120 to pivot about the edge 129, against the bias of the strap 126, into closed position wherein it is strongly biased by the steel strap 126. In use, to complete the assembly of the connector when the parts are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pop-up lanyard 95 is moved rearwardly to the position shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 2, which, because of the fixed connection to the paddle lever 1%, causes the lanyard 95 to be flexed. The safety cover 120 is then pivoted over the lanyard 95 and into closed position enclosing the release lever Sil and wherein the lanyard is retained in its flexed and retracted position by the safety cover 120, as shown in FIG. 3. A pair of locater balls 132 may be provided on the free end of the lanyard 95, adapted to be placed in corresponding creases 134 formed in the end wall 125 of the safety cover (see FIG. 1) to thereby properly locate the lanyard 95 in its retracted position. Additionally, the top wall 122 of the safety cover 120 may be provided with recessed portions 140 on the underside thereof, which form tracks for receiving portions of the lanyard 95 to further insure that the lanyard is effectively positioned in its retracted position.

In use, when it is desired to separate the connector units 2, t, the safety cover 121) is pivoted by the user to the open position, shown in FIG. 2, which causes the lanyard 95 to spring out of, or pop up from, its retracted position and into the fully extended position wherein it may be easily grasped to release the connector units. To facilitate manipulation of the safety cover 120 for pivoting the same prior to release, the forward portions 135 of the side walls 125 are enlarged and recessed inwardly from the top Wall 122 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Another preferred form of the invention is shown in PEG. 6, in which like numerals refer to like parts, wherein the paddle lever 1019 of the embodiment of FIGS. l-5 is eliminated and the release lever 180 and the bifurcated latch member 1611 are modified from the corresponding parts 80 and 61) of the first embodiment. The latch arms 162 of the bifurcated latch member 160 terminate in generally L-shaped operating fingers 164 which extend laterally inwardly from the latch member 160. The outer surfaces 165 of the operating fingers 164 are spaced from the latch arms 162 and are inwardly inclined generally to the same degree as are the button surfaces 65 of the abovedescribed embodiment.

In the presently described form of the invention, the release lever 181) is provided with a forward downwardly depending tab portion 131 extending through the slot 210 in the drive lever and which is apertured to form a pair of converging or inwardly inclined actuating members 190 that are engageable with the surfaces 165 of the operating fingers to force the latch arms 162 inwardly towards each other for releasing the same upon pivoting of the release lever 181) in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 6). The actuating members 190 are inclined generally to the same degree as are the actuating members 91 of the ab ovedescribed embodiment.

The pop-up lanyard 195 is suitably fixed to the release lever 180 generally adjacent the tab portion 181 thus providing a means for pivoting, with effective leverage, the release lever 180 to force the latch arms 162 towards each other to thereby release the upper and lower units for separation. Relative pivotal movement between the release lever 18% and the drive lever is limited by the wedging action between the actuating members 190 of the tab portion 181 and the surfaces 165 of the operating fingers 164. However, in order to positively insure that the tab portion 181 will not be completely withdrawn out of the slot 211 in the drive lever and therefore out from engagement with the operating fingers 164, when, for example, the lanyard is pulled with extreme force, the operating fingers 164 are formed with downwardly projecting stop portions 183 adapted to engage the cross member 185 of the tab portion 181 to thereby positively prevent such withdrawal of the release lever.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a quick-release connector comprising two separable units, means for releasably latching the units together including a movable lock member, spring biased detents engagebale with shoulder portions on one of said separable units for retaining the lock member in locking position, said detents being disengageable from said shoulder portions to decouple the units, a pivoted release lever having depending actuating members engageable with said detents to release the detents from said shoulder portions, and means for pivoting the release lever in a direction to release the detents from said shoulder portions for separating the units.

2. A quick-release connector as defined in claim 1 wherein there is provided a lanyard connected to said release lever at the free end thereof adapted to be pulled for pivoting the release lever, said lanyard being biased to erected position, and a safety means overlying the lanyard to hold it in retracted position to prevent inadvertent pulling thereof.

3. A. quick-release connector as defined in claim 1 wherein the detents are provided with abutments having surfaces that are engageable by said depending actuating members of the release lever, said outer surfaces and said depending actuating members etxending inwardly at approximately the same angle.

4. A quick-release connector comprising, a pair of separable units, the first of said units comprising a base having spaced ends and an inwardly facing bearing surface at one of the ends, the second of said units having a base adapted to fit between the bearing surface and the other end of the first unit and to be separable therefrom only by pivoting around said bearing surface, a locking slide mounted on said other end adapted to be moved to and from a position engaging the adjacent end of the base of the second unit, a drive lever pivotally mounted on said other end adapted to'be pivoted to and from a position overlying said bases, a driving connection between said slide and said drive lever whereby the slide is moved to locking position when said drive lever is pivoted to said overlying position, said drive lever having flexible and resilient latch means adapted to engage the base of the second unit for maintaining the drive lever in said overlying position, and a release lever pivotally mounted at said other end of the first unit in overlying relationship with said drive lever, said release lever having means in engagement with said latch means for releasing said latch means from the base of said second unit and for pivoting of said drive lever simultaneously with said release lever.

5. A quick-release connector comprising, a pair of separable units, one of said units comprising strap attaching means and a base spaced therefrom having an edge about 7 which the unit is adapted to pivot, the second of said units comprising a member provided with strap attaching means and having a curved flange forming a seat for said edge, lock means movably mounted on one of said units for preventing relative pivoting or" said units at said seat, a first lever pivotally mounted on said second unit and operatively connected to said lock means for moving said lock means between locking and unlocking positions, said lever having flexible and resilient latch means adapted to engage one of said units for releasably retaining the lever in the pivoted position where the lock means is moved to locking position, said latch means having portions projecting laterally from the first lever and adapted to be moved towards each other for releasing the latch means from engagement with said one of said units, a second lever pivotally mounted on said second unit and disposed in overlying relationship with said first lever, said second lever having actuating members in engage- 'ment with said latch portions, said latch portions and said actuating members being constructed and arranged such that pivoting of said second lever in one direction will first wedge said latch portions towards each other to thereby release said latch means and then pivot with said first lever to move said lock means to unlocking position for permitting the units to separate.

6. A quick-release connector as defined in claim wherein there is provided a third lever pivotally mounted to said second lever for relative movement with respect thereto, one end of said third lever having a self-erecting lanyard attached thereto for pivoting said second lever,

the other end of said third lever forming an abutment means adapted to engage said first lever upon pivoting of said second lever in said one direction.

7. A quick-release connector as defined in claim 6, wherein the third lever has less mass than the second lever and isprovided with a tongue adapted to be positioned between the latch portions when the first lever is in said overlying position, said tongue being dimensioned to prevent movement of the latch portions towards each other when the second lever is subjected to inertia forces tending to pivot the second lever, and wherein there is provided means for biasing the tongue to the position between the latch portions.

8. A quick-release connector as defined in claim 5 wherein the second lever is provided with a forward tongue portion extending downwardly through said first lever, said tongue portion having an aperture therethrough, the side edges of the aperture being tapered to form said actuating members, and said latch means are provided with second unit having strap attaching means spaced from the plane of its base and adjacent the pivoted end, lock means on the first unit spaced from said bearing and enengageable with said second unit to prevent relative pivoting of said units about said bearing, means for actuating the lock means to locking and unlocking position including a drive lever pivotally mounted on the first unit and engaging said lock means for moving the lock means to locking and unlocking positions and a manually operable release lever pivotally mounted on the first unit for limited relative movement with respect to the drive lever and connected to said drive'lever for pivoting the drive lever 'to thereby actuate the lock means, a resilient loop lanyard for operating the release lever, means connecting the -lanyard to the release lever generally at the free end of the release lever so that the lanyard, in its relatively relaxed state, extends generally normal to the plane of said bases, said lanyard being retractable to a position generally parallel to the'plane of said bases by torsionally flexing the same, a safety cover connected to one of said units for movement between a closed position where it overlies and engages the lanyard for securing the same in retracted position and an open position wherein said cover releases the lanyard for movement to a normally extending position, and means for releasably securing the cover in closed position.

11. A quick-release connector comprising a pair of interlocking units constructed and arranged to separate by pivoting of the second unit relative to the first unit, strap fastening means on each of said units whereby tensions applied thereto will tend to cause the second unit to'pivot relative to the first unit and thus cause the units to uncouple, a lock member movably mounted on the first unit and movable into and out of locking position for obstructing relative pivoting of said units, a drive lever pivotally mounted on the first unit and engageable with said lock member for moving said lock member into .and out of locking position, manually operable means including a second lever pivotally mounted on said first unit and overlying said drive lever, resilient retaining means for releasably retaining the drive lever in the pivoted position in which the'lock member is in its locking position, and a mechanical coupling securing said second lever and said drive lever together, saidmechanical coupling engaging said drive lever and said second lever at points remote from the pivot axis of each of them to pivot said .drive lever when said second lever is pivoted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,554 6/49 vWarner 24-20 1.4 2,834,083 5/58 Newell 24230.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 704,978 5/31 France. 117,092 1/ l 8 Great Britain. 139,725 3/53 Sweden.

'DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Examiner. 

1. IN A QUICK-RELEASE CONNECTOR COMPRISING TWO SEPARABLE UNITS, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING THE UNITS TOGETHER INCLUDING A MOVABLE LOCK MEMBER, SPRING BIASED DETENTS ENGAGEABLE WITH SHOULDER PORTIONS ON ONE OF SAID SEPARABLE UNITS FOR RETAINING THE LOCK MEMBER IN LOCKING POSITION, SAID DETENTS BEING DISENGAGEABLE FROM SAID SHOULDER PORTIONS TO DECOUPLE THE UNITS, A PIVOTED RELEASE LEVER HAVING DEPENDING ACTUATING MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENTS TO RELEASE THE DETENTS FROM SAID SHOULDER PORTIONS, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE RELEASE LEVER IN A DIRECTION TO RELEASE THE DETENTS FROM SAID SHOULDER PORTIONS FOR SEPARATING THE UNITS. 